BAXI Manresa falls in a close finish against Joventut
The Bages team ended up losing 83-79 in Badalona despite leading for several minutes. Benitez and Gaspà had a good game from the guards.
83 Joventut Badalona | Hakanson 16, Hunt 16, Hanga 4, Drell 4, and Birgander 8; Kraag 9, Rubio 20, Vives, Allen 4, Ruzic 1, and Tomic 1
79 BAXI Manresa | Benitez 14, Obasohan 9, Reyes 10, Steinbergs 12, and Golden 4; Akobundu-Ehiogu 3, Gaspà 11, Ubal 4, Knudsen, Olinde 9, Oriola, and Fernández 3
Partials: 16-19, 13-20, 29-22, 25-18
BAXI Manresa dominated for much of the game on Joventut Badalona's challenging court, but ultimately fell short in a close finish (83-79).
In a first quarter marked by low scoring, the players coached by Diego Ocampo got off to a great start and built an eight-point lead (8-16). The home team responded immediately, closing the gap to three points by the end of the first quarter (16-19).
In the second period, a very focused team continued to control the scoreboard and thwarted all attempts at a comeback by their opponents. A basket by Olinde at the buzzer gave them a maximum lead of ten points at halftime (29-39).
After the break, Manresa continued to dominate comfortably, but in the final stretch of the third quarter, the home team rallied and, thanks to a basket by Hunt, closed the gap to just three points before the final ten minutes (58-61).
In those final ten minutes, Joventut quickly tied the game, but then Manresa regained their eight-point lead (63-71). Then Ricky Rubio appeared, leading his team to a close finish where the green-and-blacks were more accurate.
On Wednesday at 8:45 p.m., BAXI Manresa will play another Eurocup game at the Nou Congost, this time against the Slovenian team Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana.